Your West Midlands Wedding- February / March 2021 (Issue 72)

MUSIC TO MY EARS Q – We’d love some live music at our drinks reception, but don’t want anything too intrusive as guests will want to chat and catch up. What would you suggest? There’s nothing more romantic for a drinks reception than live harp music. It has an elegant visual impact and a beautiful, relaxing sound which will create the perfect atmosphere. The harp is inherently gentle and can provide the correct level of background music to enable guests to enjoy listening but still be able to chat comfortably. There are harps for every situation. You could arrange to see and hear them to help you choose which one suits you best. For an outdoor drinks reception, I have a carbon fibre harp which creates a bright sound that carries well in a garden setting and is light enough to easily pick up and quickly move. Alternatively, for indoor settings, there are a range of harps from small Celtic ones to large concert harps to choose from. The choice of sound and colour is yours. All my harps have electric pickups for amplification, but this is rarely needed unless you have a large number of guests. The music for your drinks reception needs to be carefully chosen and should be smooth and gently flowing to create a soft ambience. I’ve found that people appreciate tunes that they recognise so whether you prefer classical or popular, it’s a good idea to include some well-known songs in different genres to appeal to everyone’s tastes. Helen Barley Harpist www.helenbarley.co.uk CAPTURE THE MOMENT Q – A friend of ours had two photographers on their wedding day. What are the benefits of this – should we do the same? To get the best coverage, opt for two photographers as they’ll be able to capture your day from different angles. For example, if you and your partner like the idea of getting ready shots but are in two different areas, one photographer can stay close to the groom and his side of the family while the other can follow the bride. Throughout the day, one person can concentrate on the bridal party as they walk down the aisle, while the other can get the groom’s reaction as he sees the bride for the first time in her dress. Even when the couple is together chatting to guests, having two photographers is a bonus, as one can look for all the incidental things happening that would otherwise be missed. Having a second photographer can act as another pair of eyes during the formal photos to make sure everyone looks their best and help round up your guests to speed up the process. They will also act as a backup if anything were to go wrong on the day. Clive Blair Photographer www.cliveblair.co.uk www.clive blair.co.uk 52